4 things that can stop India from winning against Afghanistan

The Indian Cricket Team is all set to play against Afghanistan in a historic one-off test series at Bengaluru starting June 14th, 2018 (Friday). The Indian team will be led by Ajinkya Rahane as regular captain Virat Kohli is not available for selection.

As per the latest team update, India’s go to wicket keeper in Tests, Wriddhiman Saha, has also been ruled out of the test series as he was unable to recover from the thumb injury he sustained during the Indian Premier League. Dinesh Karthik has been named as his replacement.

Although India begin this series as favorites, make no mistake, this is a very talented Afghanistan side up against them and the rapid rise of Afghanistan Cricket in the recent years is one among the many inspiring stories from our sport. Afghanistan will also come in this series knowing full well the implication of a good performance at the test level.

Even if Afghanistan is able to give a scare to the Indian dressing room, that will be a massive achievement for them. Having said that, Afghanistan must enter the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore believing that it can beat India.

Here are 4 things that can come in the way of India’s win against Afghanistan.

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#4 Weather in Bangalore

The rains will constantly pose a threat in Bangalore

While a good part of India is enjoying summer, seems like it is monsoon time in Bangalore. When India take on Afghanistan for this historic test, chances are that rain will play the spoilsport in between. This can ruin India’s intention of a win in this series. A win here will set them up nicely for their tour to England.

Although the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore has got one of the best drainage systems in the country, the weather is highly unpredictable in the city and that will definitely play a role in the match. Overcast conditions are predicted for the match but the side winning the toss would still like to bat first on a predominantly batsman-friendly pitch.

India will hope that minimum or no overs are lost out to the rains and they get a full chance to win against Afghanistan.

#3 Absence of Virat Kohli

Regular skipper Virat will not be playing the match

One might feel that Virat Kohli may not be required for this series. However, one shouldn’t forget that India hasn’t played as a team for quite some time now and Virat’s charged up leadership might just be the dose India may need when they take the field against the Afghans.

Not only as a leader, Virat is a massive name in the Indian batting order and though Afghanistan is playing its debut test, it is quite capable of removing the top order rather early and putting the middle order under some kind of pressure. It is in moments like those that India shouldn’t start thinking about Virat, rather bat to the best of their ability and try and win the game for the country.

#2 Rahmat Shah

Shah averages close to 50 in FC Cricket

Rahmat Shah is seen by many as the next big thing in Afghanistan Cricket. The right handed middle order batsman could very well spoil India's plan of a win against Afghanistan in what would be a rather special moment for Afghan cricket and the nerves might very well get to them.

In his 13 first class matches, Shah averages a staggering 49.40 with 2 hundreds and 4 half centuries. Whether he has it in him to produce a good inning in the longest format of the game against a formidable Indian bowling attack, remains to be seen.

The 24 year old batsmen played an important role in the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers which Afghanistan won and Shah would be desperate to go out there in the middle and try and upset India on the big stage with a match winning knock for his team.

#1 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is a vital cog in the Afghanistan bowling attack

If there is one man who has had a big role to play in putting Afghanistan’s name on world cricket map, it is Rashid Khan. Less than 20 years old, Rashid was the second highest wicket taker in the recently concluded Indian Premier League and although Indians are said to be good players of spin bowling, he has castled many an Indian batsman troubling them with his variations.

Even if it is not the T20 format, Rashid might still pose a threat to the Indian batsmen and his spell of bowling might come in the way of India winning the match against Afghanistan.

Here is wishing the Indian batsmen good luck against him.